Fence



(No Model.)

I. B. MAHON.

FENCE.

No. 360.318. Patented Mar. 29, 1887.

L/VV'EWTOZZ ti; r71 6 ya UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ISAAC B. MAI-ION, OF DUNKIRK, OHIO.

FENCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Iietters Patent No. 360,318, dated March 29, 1887,

Application filed February 11, lihl. SerialNo. 227,309.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, Isaac B. hIAHoN, a citizen of theUnited States, and a resident of Dunkirk, in the county of Hardin and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Inr provements in Fences; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings. and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure l of the drawings is a representation of front view. Fig. 2 is an end view.

This invention relates to that class of fences which is constructed of posts, rails, and wire; and it consists of the novel construction herein specified and claimed.

The letters A of the drawings represent fence-posts, and B fence rails or boards. These posts are preferably arranged in such manner that their flattened sides on the line with the rails shall occupy angular positions, as shown, to the end that when the rails are attached on alternate sides they shall assume a zigzag form, to give strength to the structure. \Vh e11 the posts are thus arranged I commence the construction by driving a staple, c, loosely in the top of each post, and pass the free end of a coil of wire through such staple and extend it to a point near the bottom of the post to a staple, d, within which staple I make it secure, as shown. I then bend the wire slightly in staple c, to secure the wire temporarily, and place one end of a rail upon the lower staple d, with the said wire interposed, and pass the opposite end of said rail to the opposite side of the next adjoining fence-post.

After the lower rail of the panel is secured in place, as above described, I drive other staples (1 into the respective posts at the proper distance, to form rests for the second rails, and arrange them as shown. I next, with asuitable pair of nippers, twist the wire above the middle of the second rail into the S forni, (shown at g on the drawings,) and drive other staples, (1, into the rails,astride of the long arm of the S-shaped bend, in such manner that one arm of such staples shall rest above one of the short arms of the S-shaped bend in the wire and the other below the (No model.)

other short arm thereof, in the manner represented in Fig. 1 of the drawings. This operation is repeated with each succeeding rail until the fence has attained the required height, when, finally, I secure the wire firmly to the upper staples, c, and drive such staples home. I then sever the wire near'said staples c, and the panel is complete.

Heretofore in this class of fences great trouble has been caused by the breakage of the wire and consequent falling or displacement of the rails. This is an especial difficulty when, for economical reasons, very light wire is employed. Fences of this character often fail to give required security, owing to the fact that rails are sometimes used before seasoning, and the consequent shrinkage serves to loosen them within the binding-wire. To obviate these difficulties is the chief object of my invention, and that object is attained by the employment of the staples d astride of the S-shaped bends 9. By this mode of construction, if a bindingwire be broken by extra force or oxidation, the staples (1 arranged in the bent wire prevent the disaster from extending to any rail except the one immediately affected thereby. These staples and bent wire also provide effectual safeguards against displacement of a rail by shrinkage, and, furthermore, against crowding the rails apart or endwise by playful or vicious animals, inasmuch as they prevent the rails from being moved either up,

down, or endwise.

It is obvious that the lower rail of the panel may be supplied with a staple and bent wire like the others; but as a rule this is not essential.

Having described this invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

In combination with the posts and rails, the herein-described fastening devices, consisting of wire secured to the top and bottom of the post, bent in 8 form on each rail and secured thereto by a staple, and also secured to the posts beneath each rail, as described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ISAAC I3. MAIION.

IVitnesses:

THEODORE MUNGEN, PHIL O. llIASI. 

